Agrippinus of Naples
Encyclopedia
Saint Agrippinus of Naples (3rd century) was a bishop of Naples and is venerated in that city as a saint
. According to tradition, Agrippinus was the sixth bishop of Naples
. He lived at the end of the third century, and seems not to have been a martyr
.
The foundation of the church of San Gennaro extra Moenia
in Naples is connected with the Catacombs of San Gennaro
, the largest Christian catacomb complex in southern Italy. The first structure was probably the result of the fusion of two ancient burial sites, one from the 2nd century CE that contained the remains of Saint Agrippinus, and the site from the 4th century CE that contained the remains of Januarius.
In 1744, Cardinal Giuseppe Spinelli
, archbishop of Naples, conducted a search for Agrippinus' relics. He found a marble
vase
with the following words written: "Indeterminate relics that are believed to be the body of Saint Agrippinus."
His relics are enshrined under the high altar
of the cathedral
of Naples with the bodies of Saints Eutychius and Acutius
, who were companions of Saint Januarius.
Stefano Pozzi
painted an oil painting
called SS Januarius and Agrippino Driving out the Saracens.
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
. According to tradition, Agrippinus was the sixth bishop of Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
. He lived at the end of the third century, and seems not to have been a martyr
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
.
Burial and veneration
At one point, Agrippinus seems to have been as popular as the more celebrated Saint Januarius (San Gennaro).The foundation of the church of San Gennaro extra Moenia
San Gennaro extra Moenia
San Gennaro extra Moenia is a church in Naples, Italy. It is located on the large road that leads up to the Capodimonte museum and is an example of so-called paleo-Christian architecture in the city....
in Naples is connected with the Catacombs of San Gennaro
Catacombs of San Gennaro
The Catacombs of San Gennaro are underground paleo-Christian burial sites in Naples, Italy. They are situated in the northern part of the city, on the slope leading up to Capodimonte...
, the largest Christian catacomb complex in southern Italy. The first structure was probably the result of the fusion of two ancient burial sites, one from the 2nd century CE that contained the remains of Saint Agrippinus, and the site from the 4th century CE that contained the remains of Januarius.
In 1744, Cardinal Giuseppe Spinelli
Giuseppe Spinelli
Giuseppe Spinelli was an Italian Cardinal. He was a prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples....
, archbishop of Naples, conducted a search for Agrippinus' relics. He found a marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
vase
Vase
The vase is an open container, often used to hold cut flowers. It can be made from a number of materials including ceramics and glass. The vase is often decorated and thus used to extend the beauty of its contents....
with the following words written: "Indeterminate relics that are believed to be the body of Saint Agrippinus."
His relics are enshrined under the high altar
Altar
An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices are made for religious purposes. Altars are usually found at shrines, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of worship...
of the cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
of Naples with the bodies of Saints Eutychius and Acutius
Proculus of Pozzuoli
Saint Proculus of Pozzuoli was martyred around 305 AD, at the same time as Saint Januarius.He was martyred with:*Sossius or Sosius, deacon of Miseno *Festus, lector *Desiderius, lector *Acutius, layman *Eutyches , layman...
, who were companions of Saint Januarius.
Stefano Pozzi
Stefano Pozzi
Stefano Pozzi was an Italian painter, designer, draughtsman and decorator whose career was spent largely in Rome....
painted an oil painting
Oil painting
Oil painting is the process of painting with pigments that are bound with a medium of drying oil—especially in early modern Europe, linseed oil. Often an oil such as linseed was boiled with a resin such as pine resin or even frankincense; these were called 'varnishes' and were prized for their body...
called SS Januarius and Agrippino Driving out the Saracens.